EF2 tornado confirmed in western Wisconsin; St. Louis struck by large twister
National Weather Service crews have determined that a tornado that spun through western Wisconsin on Thursday was fairly strong, having been given a preliminary EF2 rating.
"Our survey crew has confirmed a preliminary rating of EF2 damage for the tornado that touched down just southeast of New Richmond, WI (NW of Hammond)," the National Weather Service said.
"More information will be released as we finalize the damage assessment."
Specifics about the tornado haven't been released, but an EF2 tornado packs winds between 111-135 mph, according to the Enhanced Fujita scale.
EF0: 65-85 mph (light damage).
EF1: 86-110 mph (moderate damage).
EF2: 111-135 mph (significant damage).
EF3: 136-165 mph (severe damage).
EF4: 166-200 mph (devastating damage).
EF5: 201+ mph (incredible damage).
According to NOAA, most tornadoes are classified as "weak," with wind speeds 100 mph or less.
"Some tornadoes intensify further and become strong or violent. Strong tornadoes last for twenty minutes or more and may have winds of up to 200 mph, while violent tornadoes can last for more than an hour with winds between 200 and 300 mph! These violent tornadoes are rare in occurrence," NOAA says.
Damage assessments haven't been revealed for a confirmed tornado that hit near Benson in west-central Minnesota on Thursday.
Meanwhile, St. Louis, Missouri, didn't avoid a tornado on Friday like Minneapolis did on Thursday. Minneapolis was in a tornado warning, but nothing touched down. In St. Louis, a large tornado touched down and produced damage through the heart of the city on Friday afternoon.
The severe weather outbreak in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and surrounding areas on Friday is part of a more active pattern that Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard wrote about.
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